awashlogs | Event Twenty-Six.

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Event Twenty-Six.

I am a Tree,
I serve the man for centuries.
I give you food,
I give you wood.
I give you shed,
I hold the soil under your feet.

t's a calm, quiet, peaceful morning. It's still dark, the birds are still not even singing... and creatures, slinking and furtive, sneak into Town to drag friends, loved ones, and enemies alike away.

Whether you're one who's been dragged deeply into the woods, or one who's been left behind...

Surely you can't let this be?

After all, you may never see them again if you allow them to stay out in the woods, frozen horribly into just another tree in the woods. Good luck!

Welcome to Awash's Twenty-sixth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event!

If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh? After numerous encounters with magical folk, how unusual it is to run into a so-called normal human. Not that it changes his mind in the slightest.

"No. Why must I turn back to accompany you?"

Berkut's only path is forward. The rigidity with which he holds himself indicates that he won't budge on this. Keigo is free to flee or stay and be mauled by a creature prowling the forest; it makes no different to Berkut.

That didn't go like he'd hoped. Berkut doesn't even look like he's thinking about it!

"Because I need help! Aren't guys like you supposed to help people in need?"

Keigo's idea of "guys like him" is nothing more specific than those with armor or weapons or even just the confidence to go off in the woods by themselves.

"There is no helping cowards," he says in a clipped tone.

Nor does he intend to waste any more time on one. Without waiting for a response, Berkut begins taking long strides farther into the forest.

Keigo finds himself without much time to choose. Going back to town with the help of a slightly more defined path sounds nice. Of course, that path won't do anything to save him from the dangerous creatures he's been lucky not to face so far.

On the other hand, there's a spear.

He goes for the plan that gives him some protection, no matter how reluctant, and hurries after Berkut.

"I'm Keigo, by the way, not that you seem to care."

Why is Keigo following him? Berkut doesn't recall allowing this. He makes it a point to keep going at his regular pace. It's no skin off his nose if Keigo lags behind for any reason.

"I am Berkut, nephew to His Majesty the Emperor of Rigel. I've more important matters to attend to than the likes of an inexperienced peasant."

Keigo has fine running away legs, so he can keep up with Berkut. It's just not an enjoyable pace. For once, he has the sense not to complain about that, though.

He can complain about something else instead.

"So you're some kind of royalty? Doesn't that mean you should be watching over peasants and taking care of them?"

Halfway through flinging his head back in exasperation, Keigo stops. Is there a bit of color off in the distance?

Inwardly, he rankles at being called "some kind of" royalty. Ignorant clod, there's no question about the royal blood that courses through his veins.

"The Empire values strength. Even those of common birth know this."

But then the footfalls dogging his come to a sudden stop, abruptly enough that it turns Berkut's head. He squints. Though the color is striking, what piques his interest is something else entirely. Wordlessly, he makes for that spot in the distance, where his gaze falls on the familiar spearhead.

"This is . . . "

All complaining is actually set aside as Keigo follows until they can get a better look at the yellow tree.

"That's Tonbokiri's spear, isn't it?" Tonbokiri doesn't talk on the forums a lot, but Keigo thinks when he does his color is something like that shade of yellow. This has to be his tree! Well, him as a tree, to be more specific. Him as a tree, still holding his spear.

And maybe it's the stress of the whole situation or Keigo might say he's just able to look on the bright side and find something fun in any situation, but out of nowhere he's struck by the thought that there's something really hilarious about him still holding on to his spear. He's a tree, and it's just sticking out there!

A laugh threatens to bubble up, and Keigo tries to hold it in. Berkut was already ready to leave him to die in the forest, and he's way too serious to approve of laughing at a time like this.

"Don't worry! We'll get you out!" He looks to Berkut, ready to let him take the lead in saving the day, while the corners of his mouth twitch.

Berkut glances at Keigo. A part of him is surprised that the latter recognizes the spear, but he knows that he shouldn't be. Chroma is a small town where everyone at least walks by each other at some point.

While Keigo reins in inappropriate laughter, Berkut scowls and gestures at the . . . log.

"Out? Look at him." The markings on Tonbokiri's chest can be seen on the transformed tree. "Unless you wish to skin him, there is no getting out."

Berkut is right; Keigo felt it himself as his legs became a tree trunk. It won't be a matter of simply breaking away an outer shell.

"You know what I meant! We're going to figure out a way to un...tree him!"

He didn't have to say it like that, either! Skinning him. Gross!

But after a second of being horrified by the thought of peeling actual skin away from Tonbokiri, out of nowhere comes the idea of peeling the bark back like he's a giant banana.

There's no helping it now. Keigo's laughing, still holding it in at first so just his shoulders shake.

"Peeling!" With that outburst, he's truly laughing, long and loud. Almost like he can't stop himself. Maybe it's because he tried to hold back when he first noticed the spear.

"His spear!" Or maybe the stress of the situation is making him go crazy.

"Am- Am I losing it?"

Tonbokiri had been aware when the two men approached him, and could hear their conversation. So he does not know why 'peeling' and 'his spear' had set Keigo-dono to laughing so hard, but at the sound Tonbokiri feels more able to breathe than he has in what feels like a long time.

(Hopefully Keigo will not think he's losing it for sure when he sees the log start to look distinctly more human-like.)

Cautiously, still stiff from both the lingering magic and from not moving for so long, Tonbokiri opens his eyes and tries to move his fingers. He can tell, he is slowly returning to being flesh again...

Which brings the memory rushing back: when the tree creatures had captured him, he had been sleeping naked.
...
...
Honestly, the fact that he was captured at all is more embarrassing than being found like this. (A little.) But fortunately it is two men who have come.

He would apologize at least, but it will be a little longer until he can move and speak.

Yes, thinks Berkut, this man is out of his mind.

Before he can reproach Keigo for the absurd outburst, something in his periphery shifts. He snaps his head toward Tonbokiri, who, to his complete and utter surprise, has begun to change back into a humanoid. Surprise gives way to shock when he sees just how naked the Great Spear is.

For the first time in a long time, Berkut is rendered speechless. His outrage takes over and he looks away with a huff.

"Indecency doesn't suit you."

When Keigo emerged from the bark, he was still wearing the scavenged old-fashioned clothes he uses to sleep in. That is not the case for Tonbokiri. Did the transformation eat his clothes? Does he sleep naked?

It only makes the situation more hilarious.

Nothing quite like seeing a naked sword spirit to make him feel like doing a few sit-ups, though. And think about getting chest implants.

But the funniest thing is Berkut's uptight reaction.

"You're acting like you've never seen a naked man before! They must not have baths where you're from."

He has to catch his breath.

"Or mirrors!

Keigo laughs and laughs, completing the transformation without even realizing he's the force behind it.

Tonbokiri's lips twitch up in a smile for a moment. Although Asano-dono is laughing a bit much, he's amused at the reaction between the two men.

Fully released from the magic, Tonbokiri shifts so that he's sitting seiza, lays his spear before him, and bows towards his (unwitting?) saviours.

"Apologies for this one's immodest appearance." As he speaks, he pulls his long ponytail around to at least cover himself a little. "Asano-dono is correct in that there is nothing to be ashamed of, however it is inappropriate to be thus outside the proper context.

"But more than that, my deepest thanks for freeing me from that curse. I had wondered if I would be like that forever."

This peasant is not going to last the forest, and it won't be because of the monsters roaming the grounds. The obnoxious laughter is starting to give him a headache.

"Silence, or you'll be wanting for a new tongue," he snaps at Keigo.

Turning to face Tonbokiri, Berkut pauses. He doesn't recall doing anything that would have equated to a cure for the curse. The only thing that happened between spotting Tonbokiri and seeing him now is . . .

"Don't tell me that's what it took to undo the curse."

Keigo settles down into a few final chuckles. He's too curious about what Berkut is talking about.

"What is what it took to undo the curse?"

He really isn't bothered by the nudity, but if Tonbokiri wants to cover himself (and he probably shouldn't walk back into town like that anyway) maybe he can help with that. It's not like any part of his clothes would fit him if he tries to share, so he'll need to improvise. There's a moment of hesitation as he remembers wondering if the tree people kidnapped him because he once damaged trees, but then he snaps off a small branch with a cluster of leaves.

"Here." Keigo offers it to Tonbokiri.

He blinks at the offered leafy branch, surprised that that's what Asano-dono is offering him, and worried over another injury against the forest. But it is true that the young man's clothes would not fit him, so he takes the branch and lays it in his lap.

"Thank you." He then answers, "I felt like I could move again when I heard you laughing, Asano-dono." He turns to Berkut-dono with a patient smile. "However, it is difficult to tell what the forest required to break this curse. Your designated colours are blue and red, are they not? Perhaps that has something to do with it, too." He rubs the back of his head and sighs. "I would like to know for certain, should there be others in my condition. Given how this place works, I doubt I was the only one thus abducted."

His expression becoming grave he asks Berkut-dono, "What is the situation?"

A bold one, isn't he, to deface a tree at a time like this.

If Tonbokiri regained mobility after hearing Keigo's laughter, then that's the cure. What is there to wonder? Berkut nearly snorts from the absurdity of it all when Tonbokiri draws his attention to the broader picture. He brings a hand up to perch on his waist.

"There are more who share your previous predicament. As for how many, I do not know. It seems that the creatures of the forest are most displeased with the townspeople's treatment of their habitat."

"I saved Tonbokiri?" It sounds impossible, but it checks out. The change started as soon as he started laughing. He saved him. Yes, Tonbokiri is bringing up other theories, but Keigo wants to focus on that part.

"You're right. My color is blue. It took crying to turn me back, which is kind of blue. So laughing could be yellow because it's happy!"

Keigo has the decency to look sheepish about his recent branch murder when Berkut mentions "treatment of their habitat." He was just trying to help and a single leaf wasn't going to be enough!

Tonbokiri takes Berkut's report with a grave nod. He worried that it would be so.
His eyebrows rise in surprise that Keigo had been a tree himself, and was cured by crying.

"What odd conditions to break the curse. Yet perhaps... it is not unlike what we faced in the castle of ice."

He lifts his head and smiles at Asano-dono. "But yes, you saved me. My thanks once again."

Taking up his spear again, he doesn't stand up quite yet.

"Now... I shall return to town. And pray that I do not meet Maribelle-dono between here and my clothing." He gives an embarrassed, rueful smile. Especially to Asano, who will no doubt remember Maribelle's ~~rant~~ lecture on decency.

"What of you two? Were you on your way to help more people?"

That makes a strange amount of sense, though it makes him wonder about those whose color is red. Is it not a color associated with anger?

But Tonbokiri had better not, thinks Berkut. A fine lady of nobility like Maribelle certainly doesn't need to have this image seared into her eyes. To even speak of her like this—the gall!

"Help? No, I've come here to learn more about the curse." He gestures to Keigo. "Take him with you. I've had enough of his clamoring."

"I don't want to go with you anyway!" At least Tonbokiri appreciates him. "I'm going back to town! That's what I was trying to do when I ran into Berkut." And followed the protection, however annoyed at him it was.

Keigo turns pale at the thought of Maribelle seeing him like this.

"Don't worry. When we make it there, I'll help you sneak back into town and shield you if someone sees us!"

Despite Berkut's dismissiveness of helping people, Tonbokiri knows he will do what is right.

From how these two are... he can somewhat imagine how this situation had gone. Well, Berkut had been there to escort Asano for a while, and neither had come to harm, so it is fine.

"That will be most appreciated, Asano-dono. I shall leave it to you."

He turns to nod at Berkut-dono. "Thank you for escorting Asano-dono this far. I hope your investigation continues on well. I intend to return to the forest if there is still anyone left out here, so perhaps I shall come across you later. Until then."

Standing, spear in one hand and branch in the other, he hesitates for a beat and glances towards the sky, trying to orient himself. Which way is south? Perhaps Keigo will know the direction to go.

Ugh. Best of luck with the noise pollution, Great Spear.

It is suggested at every turn that he bring someone with him when venturing deeper into the forest. But Berkut doesn't believe his dignity will last if he keeps certain company for too long, and he's all too eager to be left alone. Expecting that one of the two will know the way back—Keigo can't be that useless—Berkut takes the first step of the trio in the opposite direction.

"Hmph. See to it that you make yourself presentable first if you do."

And, just like that, he's gone.

"What's his problem?" Keigo asks after Berkut has left and can't get mad at him for asking.

As much as he hates it and will complain at any opportunity, he's used to people treating him like that. But he was even being rude to Tonbokiri!

"We came from this way." Finding himself still able to make out a bit of the path they followed to Tonbotreeri, Keigo starts them off on the way back to town. Which will be good up until they reach they point where he met Berkut.

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